Page 31 | No offers on our house

housetales · 2021-09-12T20:21:50+00:00

Our house has been on the market for 2 months - launching as the school holidays started which I think was a huge mistake - with what I'd describe as a handful of viewings (mostly right as it went live). The price it's been listed at was the agent's price, not ours, and when compared with others locally, doesn't seem OTT. All the agents who came round gave similar valuations too. No viewers have said upon viewing it that it is overpriced either. We had only one bit of negative feedback and it was only from a couple of viewers, not all - that we are overlooked from the side of our property - so we purchased some 10ft trees to allay that concern. I'm putting myself out there with a link to see what you guys think so be gentle! Should we stay on the market or take it off for now? I should say we only went on the market as we fancied a project for our forever home and were told there was a massive opportunity in our price range as there is such limited supply. [[https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/110082437#/?channel=RES_BUY]]

FatAnkles · 14/09/2021 10:02

Just saw you have taken it off the market.

Original poster

housetales · 14/09/2021 10:03

@FatAnkles

Lovely house OP.

I think the kitchen is fine actually, the bones of it I mean. Fashions come and go...yes the French windows are a past fashion (I have them!) but I don't think there's enough reason to change them.

My moan (sorry, and I find this a lot looking at houses on RM) is that there isn't enough warmth to the house. I love colour! My bedroom is teal green, and my kitchen is yellow, for example. Your house looks a bit, dungeon-ey. The house also doesn't look "lived in". The EA says, get rid of the clutter, but I say, a little clutter is ok. Put up some art, throw a few ornaments about, break up the monotonous colour scheme with brights. Finally the garden is a bit boring. You have a significant garden (compared to most people) so put in a path, or a bed of wildflowers, or a veggie plot at the bottom. Make it look like it's used.

I'll be up in the loft this weekend bringing down more of our personal effects so we are happily living in the house. I'm also going to find a landscaper for the garden. There's no real rush now as we are off the market but it'll be easier to live here with more of our stuff knocking about.

OP posts:

Mildura · 14/09/2021 10:06

I've had 3 agent valuations and not that long ago a bank valuation when we re-mortgaged. If the local poster is more qualified than any of them, then I will definitely listen!

It's a peculiar situation which happens incredibly frequently with property matters - everybody is a bloody expert!

Selling two houses 15 years ago and watching a few episodes of Location x 3 or Escape to the country seems to convince some people that they have such extensive knowledge on all things property and they simply must share it with as many people as possible.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 14/09/2021 10:09

It’s the lack of garden foliage that gets me. It’s just looks sterile. A house of that price should have a beautiful garden full of flowers and trees.

Martinisarebetterdirty · 14/09/2021 10:14

Beautiful space OP, definitely add some indoor plants, flowers, books. And I know it isn’t yellow but it looks yellow on the photos so get them to process them to reflect the colour properly. Good luck!

SloopB · 14/09/2021 10:30

If it's been on the market for 2 months with a handful of viewings and no offers in this market, it's not valued right. I don't know anyone that would say differently. Hopefully I'm not one of the ones stressing you. Feel free to ignore if I am. You have a lovely house OP. Im sure you'll get it sorted in the end. Maybe just leave it all for a bit and come back to it later.

Original poster

housetales · 14/09/2021 10:32

@SloopB

If it's been on the market for 2 months with a handful of viewings and no offers in this market, it's not valued right. I don't know anyone that would say differently. Hopefully I'm not one of the ones stressing you. Feel free to ignore if I am. You have a lovely house OP. Im sure you'll get it sorted in the end. Maybe just leave it all for a bit and come back to it later.

Not at all. I'm fine to receive feedback that isn't positive, it's just some people have horrible delivery methods or go beyond the pail. You are of course able to say you think it's overpriced.

OP posts:

DaphneduM · 14/09/2021 10:38

We had a few goes at selling our house over the years (nowhere near the value of your house OP!) but looking back we weren't really serious. When we actually had a pressing reason for our move (new grandchild we wanted to be near to) we staged it to within an inch of its life and it sold quickly to committed buyers.

You've done so amazingly well to have a home of this size and value - through your own hard work. Things sometimes happen for a reason and it does sound as though, having thought this through, and bravely taking on board the (more constructive) comments on this thread you now have found a way forward for you, and to enjoy your lovely home for a little longer. I'm sure you'll get great satisfaction from altering the kitchen and landscaping the garden. Our new house had a blank canvass type garden and we've loved developing. The great thing about gardens is that they're never finished, and even getting the professionals in, you can still get great pleasure from putting your own ideas and planting to supplement it. Sincere best wishes OP. Don't let a few jealous people get you down.

Original poster

housetales · 14/09/2021 10:40

@DaphneduM

We had a few goes at selling our house over the years (nowhere near the value of your house OP!) but looking back we weren't really serious. When we actually had a pressing reason for our move (new grandchild we wanted to be near to) we staged it to within an inch of its life and it sold quickly to committed buyers.

You've done so amazingly well to have a home of this size and value - through your own hard work. Things sometimes happen for a reason and it does sound as though, having thought this through, and bravely taking on board the (more constructive) comments on this thread you now have found a way forward for you, and to enjoy your lovely home for a little longer. I'm sure you'll get great satisfaction from altering the kitchen and landscaping the garden. Our new house had a blank canvass type garden and we've loved developing. The great thing about gardens is that they're never finished, and even getting the professionals in, you can still get great pleasure from putting your own ideas and planting to supplement it. Sincere best wishes OP. Don't let a few jealous people get you down.

Thank you. That's a lovely post x

OP posts:

DaphneduM · 14/09/2021 10:50

My pleasure xx

Lampzade · 14/09/2021 11:14

Op, your home is lovely.
There have been some constructive feedback , which you have taken on board.
However, some posters have been nasty in their delivery which is simply because they are jealous. They get pleasure in tearing people down. It is not a coincidence that this thread is over thirty pages. Some idiots simply want to put you in your place because you are perceived as wealthy. Ignore the idiots
You sound amazing btw

Naaaaah · 14/09/2021 13:39

Don't take the blunt comments to heart. People can be having bad days, difficult lives, want to lash out etc. Just take on the feedback that resonates and ignore the rest.

Hathertonhariden · 14/09/2021 14:13

OP did you see my post yesterday at 17.17 about Modern Gardens magazine being a useful source of ideas of how to make a garden less overlooked?

blacklilypad · 14/09/2021 14:21

I've always been told that your house is priced roughly right if you have had viewings through the door. As you have, I would imagine the price is about right. I don't know the area but you sound like you have done your research and are being realistic.

I think as PPs have said it's mainly the kitchen and bathrooms. There's nothing desperately wrong with them, they are just older now. The newspapers are constantly saying how hard it is to get work done right now so that might be putting people off.

I would also we walking around going, this house is lovely but they have no stuff! Where will my stuff go?! I have been put off houses by that before. I dream of being minimalist but I am closer to hoarding

ZaraCarmichaelshighheels · 14/09/2021 15:08

@Lampzade

Op, your home is lovely. There have been some constructive feedback , which you have taken on board. However, some posters have been nasty in their delivery which is simply because they are jealous. They get pleasure in tearing people down. It is not a coincidence that this thread is over thirty pages. Some idiots simply want to put you in your place because you are perceived as wealthy. Ignore the idiots You sound amazing btw

Absolutely agree, some post have been awful and have been designed to put the OP in her place because she has the temerity to own a big house, the house next door and be relatively wealthy at a very young age, some people just cannot stand that, it makes them feel shit about themselves so they have to punish the OP. I would absolutely love these particular posters to post pictures of their stunning homes…………tumble weed no doubt. Don’t pay any attention to the ‘unhelpful’ posters Housetales you know what is really meant behind those comments.

Original poster

housetales · 14/09/2021 16:06

@Hathertonhariden

OP did you see my post yesterday at 17.17 about Modern Gardens magazine being a useful source of ideas of how to make a garden less overlooked?

Yes I did thank you. I'll absolutely be getting that ordered for inspo!

OP posts:

snowspider · 14/09/2021 17:20

A library would be a great idea in one of your reception rooms, there are lots of brilliant ways to design shelves for impact and it's lovely to have books to hand as an alternative to social media. Good luck with your plans.

Tooembarrassingtomention · 14/09/2021 17:29

@GreyPaw

My house was on the market for that price in October of last year, OP. There just aren't that many people buying in that price range, and a lot of people just want to go round for a nose. In February the agent dropped the price a bit, and I got loads more viewers and then suddenly an influx of asking price offers. Maybe drop the price a little and see if it generates more interest? People may outbid each other if you get a few offers.

I think that regional I live in the deep North and 2 million+ houses have gone for sale on our road this summer- both went to sealed offers within a week. We are all watching the HP index to see what they finally reached!

Svalberg · 14/09/2021 18:05

@snowspider

A library would be a great idea in one of your reception rooms, there are lots of brilliant ways to design shelves for impact and it's lovely to have books to hand as an alternative to social media. Good luck with your plans.

We have a library in our dining room, it works really well and we get a lot more use out of that room.

Phphion · 14/09/2021 20:42

I think you need to separate the home that you know and live in and love from the comments people are making on a house they can only see from the photographs provided.

The photographs aren't great, either stylistically or technically, and they don't convey the love you so clearly have for your home and the life you live in it. For the price your house was on the market for, and the amount I assume you are paying the estate agent, they should have advised you better on how to set things up to show your perfectly nice house off properly.

Shadedog · 15/09/2021 08:26

I wonder if a layout like this would work with your kitchen

The table could go where the units are to the right when you come through the door and it would free up the space where the table and sideboard are now for the “living” element with sofa etc. It would not be the vast space that the big new builds have but you may be able to get the cooking/dining/relaxing “I’m supervising homework at the kitchen table while my toddler plays with toys on the rug and my husband reads the paper on the sofa and admires the garden through the french doors, all the while cooking a delicious meal from scratch” vibe without extending.

Sorry. I’m disproportionately invested in your house.

Original poster

housetales · 15/09/2021 09:22

@Shadedog

I wonder if a layout like this would work with your kitchen

The table could go where the units are to the right when you come through the door and it would free up the space where the table and sideboard are now for the “living” element with sofa etc. It would not be the vast space that the big new builds have but you may be able to get the cooking/dining/relaxing “I’m supervising homework at the kitchen table while my toddler plays with toys on the rug and my husband reads the paper on the sofa and admires the garden through the french doors, all the while cooking a delicious meal from scratch” vibe without extending.

Sorry. I’m disproportionately invested in your house.

We are going to engage an architect to work out the layout of the kitchen and if in fact we should extend it too. I'm also considering going into the roof for a master suite with dressing rooms and bathroom.

I love that you're invested. I think a few people are! It's much nicer to feel those cheering for us than those who have sniped at us!

OP posts:

Motherof3Dragons · 15/09/2021 09:45

I don’t know your area OP so I can’t comment on the price, but I think your house is beautiful!

Personally I could only find fault in the next-door-neighbour’s house being so close and overlooking your garden.
You can’t change the ndn house location obviously, but you could plant much more shrubs and trees to give the garden not only more privacy, but also a “wow” factor.
If the garden has that, a lot of ppl wouldn’t be paying attention to the ndn house being that close. Glwts!

naturealwayswins · 15/09/2021 09:56

I was struck by the way you've described the area with such enthusiasm, OP.

It's clearly a lovely place to live with great neighbours and, very importantly, safe for your children to play and to cycle. You can't put a price on that.

My neighbourhood is also a delight and I sometimes have nightmares that I've sold up then hate the next house!

I think you've done the right thing, taking it off the market. You can make it as you want and enjoy living in it, at least for a while. For what it's worth, the French doors are really pretty and suit your house!

Shadedog · 15/09/2021 09:57

We went into our loft in our old house. Much smaller footprint than yours (midsized modern 4-bed detached integral garage type) but the space we ended up with was enormous. We had master bed with dressing room and en-suite with a huge bath and a “gym” (some gym equipment in the slope of the eves with velux windows)